Summary
Soulslikesare some of the most popular games in the gaming world, as they present players with lots of opportunities, vast worlds with various themes, and, of course, a tangible challenge that can often be both frustrating and rewarding. Whilenot all Soulslikes are as hard asDark Souls, many of them share other elements that have made FromSoftware’s brainchild a timeless classic.
In Soulslikes, players will frequently encounter merciless bosses who will likely make them die more than once, restarting their journey from the last saved spot. Whilesome of these tough bosses are optional, others are mandatory and will force players to traverse great lengths to face them time and time again—that is, if they don’t find a shortcut that is available. Here are some of thebest Soulslikes with the best shortcuts.
Following the story of Corvus,Thymesiawill have players set out on a journey where they will have to fight through a kingdom that’s overrun by monsters in order to save it. Similar to other Soulslikes,Thymesiahas a grim setting that perfectly compliments its overall esthetics and the developer’s intentions to convey a dark world with no hope.
While not thescariest Soulslike out there,Thymesiauses a very interesting concept for combat as it allows Corvus to take control of the disease that’s plaguing the land. While this title doesn’t have as many shortcuts as other Soulslikes, it still has a decent number of them.
Salt and Sanctuaryis not only aSoulslike with a very complete class system, but it also features a wonderful 2D art style that works very well with its concept. The game opens with the player character inside a ship that’s also carrying a Princess. However, the ship is never meant to reach its destination, as it’s attacked by marauders.
If players are skilled enough, they might be able to fight off the Marauders, but unfortunately, even then, they will still be faced by a greater threat that will ultimately make the ship crash.Salt and Sanctuaryhas one of the most complete skill trees in any Soulslike, and its multi-boss battles, along with the various shortcuts on the map, add a layer of complexity to the game that’s most welcome.
Blasphemousis one of those titles that only comes along once every couple of years. This title features amazing and challenging boss fights, a beautiful pixel art style and an overall thematic revolving around religious zealotry and blind devotion to a greater will.
Throughout the game, players will find themselves traversing complex areas full of enemies that will try to make them fall into area obstacles and other perils.Blasphemous’s map is vast and complex, which is why the various shortcuts available in the game are most welcome, even when there are also options to teleport. The sequel,Blashpemous 2,builds on this title significantly, as it also featuresnew weapons that are more varied, and innovative area exploration mechanics.
While the titles in theDark Soulsfranchise are also full of horrendous creatures and grim areas, they pale in comparison to whatBloodbornehas in store for players who dare to pick it up. The game is set in the nightmarish world of Yharnam, which has been slowly consumed by a bloodborne disease that has transformed many of its inhabitants into monsters.
Like other titles developed by FromSoftware,Bloodbornehas various shortcuts that players can take advantage of to avoid the arduous path back toany powerful bossesthat kill them. However, even if they manage to discover every single one of them, they will still have to face some spine-chilling monsters along the way.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceisn’t only great due to its concept and amazing gameplay, but also because it’s set in Japan, the home of its developer FromSoftware. By setting this title on their home turf, the developers not only managed to deliver an amazing experience that feels and plays like theDark Soulstitles, but also created a world that shows the beauty of feudal Japan.
This game has arguably one of the most fluid travel systems in a FromSoftware game, as it allows players to swing from different points and reach high destinations with ease. However, even with that being the case, having certain shortcuts to make the run back tothe various challenging bosses present inSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, is always welcome.
At a glance,Hollow Knightmight not seem like a decent Soulslike, as it’s hard to believe that a game with a 2D art style is capable of presenting players with a challenge as great as theDark Soulstitles can. However, as soon as players enter the magical world known as the Hallownest, they will quickly discover that the challenge is there, and that they will be put to the test more than once.
Hollow Knightfeatures a vast map full of enemies,difficult bosses, and creepy areas like the Deepnest that will likely give players goosebumps and challenge their sense of direction. In this game, shortcuts are not only discovered through exploration, but also by unlocking different abilities that make them usable.
The Surge 2presents players with a very concerning yet very real and potential future for the human species. Set in a dystopian future where the world’s resources have been completely exhausted, humanity is on the brink of extinction, which causes a fair share of societal and political issues.
Like other Soulslikes on this list,The Surge 2has various shortcuts that players can unlock as they explore the world and progress through the game. These help navigate the world with more ease and allow players to save time during some critical moments.
While other FromSoftware’s titles have been critically acclaimed for more than a decade now, none of them have managed to earn the success and popularity thatElden Ringhas enjoyed since it was released. Implementing similar game mechanics to other titles of this developer,Elden Ringalso introduces an open-world setting which allows players to explore any areas they want in almost any order.
This, along with the large variety of weapons,unbelievably powerful bosses, and armor set, make the game a masterpiece. While not every shortcut in the game must be unlocked to travel The Lands Between in a streamlined fashion, it’s always an advantage to have them all, or at least most of them—even when there’s already an outstanding Fast Travel system in place.
